I was reading all the different symptoms of fibro and was wondering what everyone else’s are, and what level do you have them, if you want to add that. 1 to 10, ten the worst pain ever.
10 Tenderness to touch or pressure affecting joints and muscles
10 Fatigue
5 Sleep problems (waking up unrefreshed)
10 Problems with memory or thinking clearly
8 Depression or anxiety
4 Migraine or tension headaches
8 Digestive problems: irritable bowel syndrome (commonly called IBS) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (often referred to as GERD)
7 Irritable or overactive bladder
0 Pelvic pain
7 Temporomandibular disorder—often called TMJ (a set of symptoms including face or jaw pain, jaw clicking and ringing in the ears)
Now some things to help:
LIVING WITH FIBROMYALGIA
Even with the many treatment options, patient self-care is vital to improving symptoms and daily function. In concert with medical treatment, healthy lifestyle behaviors can reduce pain, increase sleep quality, lessen fatigue and help you cope better with fibromyalgia.
Here are some self-care tips.
Make time to relax each day. Deep-breathing exercises and meditation will help reduce the stress that can bring on symptoms.
Set a regular sleep pattern. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. Getting enough sleep lets your body repair itself, physically and mentally. Also, avoid daytime napping and limit caffeine intake, which can disrupt sleep. Nicotine is a stimulant, so those fibromyalgia patients with sleep problems should stop smoking.
Exercise often. This is a very important part of fibromyalgia treatment. While difficult at first, regular exercise often reduces pain symptoms and fatigue. Patients should follow the saying, “Start low, go slow.” Slowly add daily fitness into your routine. For instance, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or park further away from the store. After awhile, do more physical activity. Add in some walking, swimming, water aerobics and/or stretching exercises. It takes time to create a comfortable routine. Just get moving, stay active and don’t give up!
Educate yourself. Nationally recognized organizations like the Arthritis Foundation and the National Fibromyalgia Association are great resources for information. Share this information with family, friends and co-workers.
POINTS TO REMEMBER
Look forward, not backward. Focus on what you need to do to get better, not what caused your illness.
As your symptoms decrease with drug treatments, start increasing your activity. Begin to do things that you stopped doing because of your pain and other symptoms.
With proper treatment and self-care, you can get better and live a normal life.
http://www.rheumatology.org/Practice/Clinical/Patients/Diseases_And_Conditions/Fibromyalgia/